Improvement in trusses



- W. L. L. PIERCE.

muss.

No. 182,701. 7 Patented Sept. 26, 1816.

UNITED STATES PATENT QFFIGE.

WILLIAM L. L. PIERCE, OF SAN FRANOISGO, CALIFORNIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN TRUSSES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 182.701. dated September 26, 1876; application filed August 3, 1876.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM L. L. PIERCE, of San Francisco, in the county of San Francisco and State of California, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Trusses; and

I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

My invention relates to an improvement in trusses for rupture or hernia; and it consists, mainly, of two metal disks, between which the suspending-band is held, the band being divided, and the ends, overlapping, are held between the plates or disks by means of a setscrew, which enters the pad. An elastic tubular spring is placed between the disks and pad, and a movable buckle operates on the outer disk, all of which will hereinafter more fully appear. 7

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan or front view; and Fig. 2, a side view, in perspective.

Arepresents the pad, which may be round or egg shape, as theexigencies of the case require. The sustaining-band is divided so as to form the parts B B, the ends of which overlap each other, and are held in place between the metal plates 0 D, which serve as a clamp for the band. A set-screw, 0, passes through the plates and band and enters the pad, which unites and keeps the parts together.

It is evident, however, that the upper plate, 0, may be dispensed with, and a screw having a large head be employed instead 5 yet the plate 0 is preferable.

By this means the band can be adjusted from the horizontal to any inclination, and the pad be carried down to the lower edge of the' abdomen, and be made adjustable by moving the bands nearer to the vertical, so as to be applied at any desired point where a rupture of the diaphragm has taken place; and if a double rupture has been suffered a double pad is employed, having the same elements of adjustability.

The inner face of the pad A is recessed to admit of an elastic tubular spring, a, of indiarubber, which is provided With a large mouth, upon Which the plate D rests, in which position it is held by the set-screw. This tubular spring imparts a constant and equal pressure of the pad upon the ruptured part with much greater ease and efliciency than by any other means now employed for that purpose.

It will also be clearly seen, by this attachment the pad itself can be made to move in a circle, turning as it does on the set-screw to any desired point.

The buckle b which receives the perineal strap E, is connected to a movable plate, I). This buckle-plate is also held by the screw 9, which permits of its being turned around the whole circle, or so as to form a right-side or left-side truss. This movable buckle will be found very convenient to the wearer, and also avoids the necessity of having slots made in the plate G for a proper adjustment.

Having thus describedmy invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. The combination, with the pad A, of the plate D, the tubular spring a, and the setscrew a, substantially as described and shown.

2. The combination, with the pad A, of the divided band B B, the plate D, and the setscrew 0, when the said set-screw passes through the plate and the ends of the band into the said pad, substantially as described and shown.

a 3. The combination, with the pad A, of the plate D,.the set-screw c, the divided band B B, and the movable buckleplate b, substantially as described and shown.

4.. The combination of the pad A, plates 0 D, divided band B B, movable buckle-plates b, set'screw c, and tubular spring a, constructed and arranged substantially as described and shown.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 19th day of July, 1876.

WM. L. L. PIERCE. [L.

Witnesses:

0. W. M. SMITH, PHILIP MAHLER. 

